Big Careers, Small Children

“This time around I was really clear from the start with the recruiter that I can only consider this if the way in which I’m currently working compressed hours can continue.”Our guest today is Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler, the CEO of children's charity Bookmark and mum to 3 small children.Graihagh works flexibly 4 days a week as the charity CEO and she shares with Verena how she negotiated for flexible working during the recruitment process, including why she strongly believes being a working parent is a big asset. The discussion includes:What Graihagh learned about negotiating for flexible working during the application process How to make an impact in the first 100 days at a new organisationHow Graihagh handles emails on her day offMoving from 2 to 3 childrenWhy you should update your LinkedIn profile Why being a working parent is one of your greatest strengthsConnect with Graihagh on LinkedIn or Twitter @GraihaghCLearn more about volunteering with Bookmark and helping children develop the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond at www.bookmarkreading.org.The recruitment firm mentioned are www.siennaedge.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“If someone offers you an opportunity, yes think about it, but do it. Know that you can do it.”Welcome to this bonus Employer Change Maker episode of Big Careers, Small Children.Today we welcome Emma Codd, a Partner and Global Inclusion Leader for Deloitte, a leading professional services firm.As Global Inclusion Leader Emma was responsible for devising and rolling out Deloitte's DEI strategy globally, spanning 160 countries around the world.Emma shares why she is so passionate about diversity and inclusion as well as practical tips and advice for driving culture change on such a high level.The discussion includes:How to implement a culture change that worksMaking culture changes without a big budgetFinding a senior sponsor to back youThe importance of having leadership buy-in to make changeThe common traps that DEI leaders fall into when trying to make change Watch Deloitte's award-winning Ask Yourself film which was created to encourage everyone at Deloitte to think about their personal responsibility to treat people with respect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G0OUHnCudwFind out more about diversity and inclusion at Deloitte.Connect with Emma Codd on Linkedin.Employer Change MakersThis episode is part of our Employer Change Maker series, supporting employers with expertise, ideas and resources to drive positive change for working parents within their organisations. Leaders Plus are building a positive movement for change so that new parents can thrive in leadership roles and progress their careers. Find out more.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“If you’re a new parent thinking about going back to work and doing a job search, do have a think about searching for companies that are more remote first as it will make your life easier.”Today we welcome back Geraldine Butler-Wright to the podcast to discuss job hunting whilst on maternity leave. Geraldine recently returned to work from her own second maternity leave having accepted an exciting new role as Chief People and Culture Officer at the live streaming platform, StreamElements.Verena and Geraldine discuss:How to job hunt using your network whilst on maternity leaveHow to make the first 100 days at a new organisation count whilst also making time for self-careHow to practically reach out to companies you’re interested in (including what to write in your opening message)Why you should speak to your network in person and not on email when job huntingWhy parents should might be best prioritising organisations who offer remote workConnect with Geraldine on LinkedIn. We hope you enjoy the conversation, remember to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“I had an awesome role model for how I want to work and the work-life balance I want.” Sophie Riegel It's our first mother-daughter interview this week on Big Careers, Small Children and we're delighted to welcome Deborah Grayson Riegel and her daughter Sophie to the podcast.Deborah is a keynote speaker and consultant who teaches leadership communication for Wharton Business School and Columbia Business School. She regularly contributes to Harvard Business Review, Inc., Psychology Today, Forbes, and Fast Company and has written numerous books, including "Go To Help" which she co-authored with her daughter Sophie. Sophie Riegel is a Senior at Duke University and the author of "Don't Tell Me To Relax," "Overcoming Overthinking," and "Go To Help!" She is a professional speaker, coach, and mental health advocate. Our discussion includes:Strategies to stop overthinkingWhat it was like for daughter Sophie when her mother travelled the globe for work when she was young How to ask for help without feeling guilty Strategies for overcoming guilt as a working parent Find out more about Deborah Grayson Riegel via her website https://deborahgraysonriegel.com Find out more about Sophie Riegel, including her coaching practice at https://sophieriegel.com Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“When it comes to diversity and inclusion a lot of organisations are managing recruitment and selection rather well. Promoting for diversity is a whole other issue.”Dr Claartje Vinkenburg is an expert on gender diversity in careers. In this special employer change maker episode of Big Careers, Small Children she joins Verena Hefti MBE to discuss the most recent research on career development in the context of promoting gender equality.Their discussion includes:How organisations can ensure that not just those who shout loudest get promotedWhether organisations should have high potential lists Whether women actually have lower confidence than men when it comes to career progressionGender differences in senior rolesWhy it’s good to share you have care responsibilities at interview stageThe strategy used by female employees in Barack Obama’s White House Administration to fight gender bias Connect with Dr Claartje Vinkenburg on LinkedIn.Employer Change MakersThis episode is part of our Employer Change Makers series, supporting employers with expertise, ideas and resources to drive positive change for working parents within their organisations. Leaders Plus are building a positive movement for change so that new parents can thrive in leadership roles and progress their careers. Find out more.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

"I worked for someone many years ago who said "You can look out the window or you can look in the mirror". I think it's really important to keep looking in the mirror every day and making sure you're role-modelling as much as you can.”In this episode, Verena speaks with Dax Grant, CEO Global Transform, Forbes Technology CouncilDax is a lead global authority on entrepreneurial c-suite leadership, a renowned Woman in Technology, accomplished keynote speaker and societal voice. Listed within the Global CIO 100, Cranfield School of Management 100 Women to Watch, CREA Global Awards Winner for Entrepreneurship, named Top 100 Most Influential Women in Leadership, March8 Magazine and Top 10 Most Influential Business Leaders, CXO Outlook Magazine.Dax has significant expertise in leading global COO and CIO functions, a board advisor and member of the Forbes Technology Council. As a Chartered Banker and Associate of the London Institute of Banking and Finance, Dax also holds an economics degree from Cambridge and MBA, Alumna of Cranfield Business School and Harvard Business School, Dax is recognized for her philanthropic activities, as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and author: The Entrepreneurial Quotient.They discuss:The importance of entrepreneurship within organisations for leading positive changeHumanizing leadership both at work and as a parent - and not making assumptions about what the other person needs or wantsThe flux in priorities at different phases of life and career, and the importance of letting some things stop to make space for othersFinding your purpose and using it to drive momentum for change.Connect with Dax on Linkedin.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“The thing that bridges the gap between the choice I made and the connection I feel with the organisation - in order to give my best self to work - is purpose.”Today we welcome Adirupa Sengupta, Group CEO of Common Purpose, an incredible charity that runs leadership-development programmes around the world. Adirupa (Adi) has extensive experience working across different countries, cities and cultures to help leaders learn to cross boundaries in order to tackle complex problems. We discuss:What Adi used to believe about combining a big career with small children Frequently travelling internationally for work when you're a parentFinding your purpose Leading across boundariesDealing with assumptionsConnect with Adi on Twitter @AdirupaSenguptaFind out more about the Big Spark Cast.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Apply today: Cross-Sector Fellowship applications close on 7th March 2023"Our family is a mutual enterprise, it's a project we manage together, and it has to be given time and resource. We have to really clearly communicate that between us: is everyone happy with the time and resource that is going into that mutual project? "Joining Verena on the podcast this week are Catherine Muge and Dr Tom Bashford. Catherine is Director of Partnership Intelligence at UNICEF UK and Tom is Assistant Professor in Healthcare Systems, University of Cambridge and Consultant Neuroanaesthetist, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Together, they are also raising two young boys.Tom and Catherine share their two experiences of Shared Parental Leave, as well as their views on the importance of role modelling equality for their sons.They discuss:how having children changed their perspective on the way they work, forcing them to be more strategic with their time and considerate of the family unit as a wholethe societal bias that still leads to assumptions of Catherine as the default caregiverthe importance of regular "moments of rebalancing" the caregiving burden.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Thinking about a career change?Today we are revisiting one of our most popular podcast episodes featuring Chief People & Culture Officer Geraldine Butler-Wright.Geraldine has juggled multiple senior leadership roles and navigated big career changes (including cross-sector), she is an advocate of finding a job that ignites our true passion. In this episode, she shares fantastic tips for working parents thinking about a career change.The discussion includes:Why it's important to find organisations who welcome fluidity in getting things doneWhy just saying 'yes' might be the best decision you ever makeHow to learn to sell yourself to a potential new employerHow to choose the right company for youHow to improve and then highlight your transferable skillsGeraldine's best advice for moving to an organisation with purposeAt the time of recording, Geraldine was Chief People & Culture Officer for Healthily but has since moved to the streaming platform StreamElements.She is also a Trustee, Advisor and Strategic Advisor, as well as a Senior Leader Mentor on our award-winning Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme. She is a mother of two small children.Connect with Geraldine on LinkedIn here.Please find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with any friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

The tables have turned in this week's episode.Host Verena Hefti MBE (CEO and Founder of social enterprise Leaders Plus) is interviewed by Leaders Plus Fellow Jemma Biteye on the practical ways to support equal career progression for working parents.Jemma and Verena discuss:what led to Verena setting up Leaders Plus to support parents progressing senior careershow to network when you don't have timeways to deal with heavy workloadpractical ways companies and individuals can support equal career progression of parents We hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

A special update for any listeners with a baby or a child between the ages of 0-11. We're creating a world where nobody needs to choose between becoming a CEO and raising young children.The Leaders Plus Fellowship is a targeted 9-month career development programme designed to support working parents to progress ambitious careers in a way that works for their family. Fellows have access to a dedicated Senior Leader Mentor plus high-quality resources to manage the practical challenges of juggling work and family life.The Leaders Plus Fellowship has been described by some previous Fellows as, “life-transforming!"I am especially proud that 53% of our 2022 Leaders Plus Fellowship cohort reported that they have been promoted or received significantly more senior responsibility by the last day of the programme. I encourage you to find out more: www.leadersplus.org.uk/crosssectorfellowshipApplications close on 07 March 2023.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“Until you’re trying you just don’t look into fertility and you don’t understand where the fertility cliffs are and where the drop-offs start to happen.”Our guest today is Joanna Santinon, EY Ambassador, Non-Executive Director and Charity Trustee.Joanna bravely shares her personal fertility journey, including how she combined multiple rounds of IVF treatment alongside her demanding career as a partner at Ernst & Young. We discuss:What to know before you embark on IVFWhy compartmentalising really helped JoannaThe best piece of advice Joanna received Why having IVF didn’t affect her career What Joanna wishes she'd known in hindsight We hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“Before Laura I really sat there waiting for opportunities. After Laura’s mentoring session that changed for me. I would actually go out and find them.”To celebrate International Mentoring Day (17 January 2023) we speak to Consultant Laura Harrison, a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme, and her Mentee, Leaders Plus Fellow and U-Blox Principal Engineer Rajani Rao to find out what made their relationship so successful.We discuss:what it takes to make a mentoring relationship truly transformationalwhere to go to find Mentors why some conversations make a difference and others don'tWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Connect with Laura on LinkedIn. Connect with Rajani on LinkedInFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.We are currently recruiting Senior Leader Mentors. Find out more.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“The norm now in the UK is that we have working families but we don’t have a society that supports that.”Can a primary caring responsibility be equally shared between mothers and fathers? Our guest today is Tina Miller, Professor of Sociology at Oxford Brookes University and an expert in caring.Professor Miller shares how the responsibility for orchestrating the care of children often falls to mothers, and how, over time, this pattern becomes etched into the very fabric of family life. We discuss how primary caring responsibilities can be shared more equally between mums and dads (in heteronormative households), including examining: Contradictions we face as working parentsDealing with the mental loadProblems around shared parental leaveGuilt and expectationsWhat a healthy working environment could look like so both men and women could careLetting go so that fathers can take on more responsibilityWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“If we shift our thinking to a both/and approach it enables us to open up all kinds of different possibilities and to use these tensions as a source of creativity.”Today we are delighted to welcome Wendy K Smith to the podcast. Wendy is the Emma Smith Morris Professor of Management and academic director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business & Economics. Wendy is also the co-author of the brilliant book Both/And Thinking, which challenges the perception that we have to choose between pursuing two things we love. Instead, the book sets out the ways that we can be both/and instead of either/or, including providing tools for coping with multiple tensions at the same time.Wendy and Verena discuss both/and thinking in the context of progressing your career whilst enjoying your young family and share practical tips on focusing on the bigger picture goals and learning to find comfort in the discomfort.We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Both/And thinking, including where to order a copy of the book via bothandthinking.net.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“If you are high performance you need empathy in your workplace!”Our guest today is Anita Nowak, an expert in empathy and author of the forthcoming book Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organisational, and Social Change.Anita is passionate about mentoring the next generation of changemakers and teaches leadership, ethics in management, and social entrepreneurship and innovation at McGill University.In this episode, we dive into empathy - a skill that post-pandemic has never been more critical for us at a personal level and as leaders in the workplace. Anita shares with us the latest research on why empathy is crucial in organisations, how it contributes to our own personal well-being and happiness and why it's so much more than just the "touchy-feely stuff."We hope you enjoy the conversation. You can pre-order a copy of Anita's forthcoming book via Amazon. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“In our office, we don’t talk about work-life balance we talk about home-life balance.”Our guest today is Michelle Bradley, CEO of The Parent Rooms, a perinatal mental health charity where parents can access support and friendship who are based in Northern Ireland.Michelle launched The Parents Rooms after struggling with postnatal depression and feeling isolated and alone in the early years of parenthood. She shares with us everything she has learned as a courageous leader with a big career and small children. Including:Overcoming burnout and recognising the signs you need self-careDealing with postnatal depression and the importance of services for new mothersLeading an organisation with empathyFinding your identity outside of being a motherOvercoming confidence struggles and dealing with imposter syndromeWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about Michelle and the fantastic service offered by The Parent Rooms at https://www.theparentrooms.co.uk If you're struggling with postnatal depression please seek help from your GP.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“Instead of waiting for someone else, we can each try and lead change from where we are.”Our guest today is Alex Budak, a social entrepreneur, UC Berkeley Haas faculty member, speaker and the author of the empowering book Becoming a Changemaker. Alex believes anyone has the potential to lead change positive change. He talks us through his practical guide to becoming a changemaker, no matter where you are in an organisation.Including:The personality traits people who drive positive change have in commonHow to use the latest research to drive change for working parents in your organisationThe 5 superpowers of influencing and how to use themWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about Alex at www.alexbudak.com For more information about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

TW: TFMR“Emma is very much part of the family, that was very important to me. I am a mother, I do have a child.”Today we welcome critically acclaimed comedian, writer and performer, Lou Conran. Lou had a termination for medical reasons (TFMR) after finding out her daughter Emma had a rare medical condition which meant she would be unable to survive. She bravely shares her personal story, including how she dealt with needing to keep earning money (as a comedian) in the midst of this heartbreaking experience and how family, friends and colleagues can support you if you're going through baby loss. For anyone who is going through a TFMR or dealing with baby loss, support can be found via www.tommys.org Thank you Lou for this inspiring conversation.Find out more about Lou, including details of her excellent Spit or Swallow podcast at www.louconran.com. For more information about about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“It’s good for our children to see mothers as not just a parent but so much more than that. There are different facets to our identity and it’s healthy for kids to witness that.”Our guest today is Dr Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist specialising in family therapy and host of the brilliant podcast Talking Sense with Dr Martha.Leaders Plus Fellows tell us time and time again that they struggle with worrying about their children when they are at work and thinking about work when they are with the children.So how can working parents switch off and be truly present with their kids at home and vice versa, how can they go to work and not feel guilty about leaving their kids?Dr Martha shares fantastic, practical advice for working parents, including: 3 things every parent can do today to be more present with their childrenWhy your child needs meaningful connection and not necessarily hours of your timeHow to be focused at work without feeling guiltyHow to make children understand that you have to and want to workWe hope you enjoy our conversation.To find out more about Dr Martha head to her website at www.drmarthapsychologist.comFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletterAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Gender equity can't happen without racial equity. We need Shared Sisterhood.Our guest today is Dr Beth A. Livingston, Associate Professor in Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. Beth's research interests lie primarily in gender, diversity, and the management of work and family. Her best-selling book, Shared Sisterhood is a blueprint for taking collective action for racial and gender equity in the workplace.Shared Sisterhood outlines how individuals from historically power-dominant and marginalized groups (such as ethnic minorities) must work together so that all women experience the benefits of professional growth and equity.We discuss:How Beth didn't initially get tenure whilst juggling work and family life Career and family negotiations in dual-career couplesHow to phrase difficult conversations with your partner (if you have one)Changing how we strive for equity in the workplaceHow to bridge the divide between women of all backgrounds through authentic relationshipsFollow Dr. Beth A Livingston on Twitter @BethALivingstonhttps://bethalivingston.comShow notes:The Second Shift - Anne Machung, Hilary Huber, Alie RussellShared Sisterhood - Tina Opie & Beth A LivingstonFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“Progress, not perfection. That’s a bit of a mantra for our leadership team.”Our guest today is Angela McConville , CEO of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the UK’s largest charity for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Angela shares her honest reflections on motherhood, leadership and the importance of seeking progress not perfection. The conversation includes:Being an authentic leaderThe importance of realistic role modelsThe organisations who are supporting parents brilliantlyWhy it's important to have the right infrastructure to allow yourself to thriveManaging stress and looking after your whole selfAngela is also a Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship programme and is a mother of two children aged 12 and 9. Follow her on Twitter @angelamcconvillWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

"Trust arrives on foot but leaves on horseback."Our guest today is Veronica Hope Hailey, Emeritus Professor at the School of Management, University of Bath, expert on trust and organisational change and mother to 5 daughters. During the COVID-19 pandemic Veronica published two fascinating reports (Responsible Business in Crisis – Rebuilding Cultures of Trust) which featured over 100 interviews with CEOs, CFOs, CMOs and HRDs on their experience of leading through the first 2 years of the Pandemic. They tell the story of responsible business and trustworthy leadership through the peak and the aftermath of the pandemic.As well as sharing her personal journey progressing her career as a mother to 5 children, Veronica gives useful insights and practical tips on fostering trust in the workplace, particularly if you're working (or hoping to work) flexibly. Enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

In this special episode to celebrate #NationalMentoringDay Verena Hefti MBE shares her experience of finding a high quality Mentor to help guide your senior career, including where to find one, how to approach the conversation and what to do when it just isn't working out.Access an inspirational Mentor, a network of like-minded parents and world-class training via our award-winning Fellowship. Register interest now.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Our guest today is charity CEO Dhivya O'Connor.Dhivya is currently Interim CEO of the youth mentoring charity, The Girls’ Network and has previously served in the CEO role for organisations including United World Schools, Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Children with Cancer UK. She is also a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme, supporting women returning to work after having children, in progressing their careers.Prior to joining the third sector, she held various strategy, business development and leadership roles in large corporates. A mother of two young children, Dhivya chats to Verena Hefti MBE about what it takes to become a charity CEO when you're a parent. She also shares the reality of moving from the corporate sector to the charity sector and what to do to get a high quality Mentor when you need it most.We hope you enjoy the conversation. Follow Dhivya on Twitter @DhivyaOConnorDhivya is also the creator and executive producer of The Charity CEO Podcast, sharing insight into the challenges faced by charity leaders. You can listen to Verena Hefti MBE and CEO of ReachOut UK, Bejal Shah, discussing Mentoring on a forthcoming episode of The Charity CEO Podcast released on 05 December 2022. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

“You try to learn to make peace with the mother you are not and embrace the mother that you are.”Our guest today is Clarissa Ward, a multi-award-winning war reporter and CNN's Chief International Correspondent.For over 15 years Clarissa has been reporting from front lines around the world, including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine.Her incredible memoir ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’ is a captivating read and details Clarissa’s life in journalism covering conflicts.Now a mother of two young boys aged 2 and 4, Clarissa juggles life on the front line with raising her young family. She talks to Verena about how life has changed since becoming a mum and what it’s really like to work as an international war correspondent with a toddler in tow.They discuss:Societal expectations of mothersMotherhood guilt and everything inbetweenWorking in a job rooted in purposeTips for travelling internationally when you have a young familyThe reality of parenthoodWe hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Clarissa's brilliant book On All Fronts here.For more information about Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events sign up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

I don’t think anybody’s life is quite as smooth sailing as social media would have us believe.”This week in support of World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October) we welcome Clinical Psychologist Professor Roz Shafran, co-author of the brilliant book “How to Cope When Your Child Can’t”.Parenthood can often be far from smooth sailing, especially if your child is unwell, experiencing challenges or has additional needs. So how can parents juggling work and raising their family ensure they look after their own mental health and thrive during these difficult times?Roz and Verena talk honestly about strategies to help parents cope and Verena shares her personal story of managing being a CEO whilst her young son was admitted to the hospital 7 times over a 6 month period.They cover:What to do with your big career aspirations when your child is poorlyHow to make tough decisions and look after yourself when your child is strugglingHow to carve out time that’s for youWhy what works isn’t one size fits all‘Mustabation’ and why it will grind you down We hope you enjoy the conversation. Remember, speaking out about your struggles isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. Support can be found via Mind.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

"In practice there’s always a bit of wriggle room for individual discussions and individual negotiations about pay."This week we are joined by pay expert, lecturer, HR leader and Leaders Plus Fellowship Alumni Dr Lisa Grover.Lisa is a Senior Lecturer in Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Exeter Business School and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to practical advice on  preparing for negotiations on pay.Our conversation includes:Tips on preparing well for pay negotiationsHer experience sitting in the HR ChairThe different pay structures within organisations Why in practice there’s often wriggle room for individual discussions Why you’re in a strong position when you enter a new company Retention payments: what are they and how to get them Why doing your research makes a big difference Going down to 4 days for the same level of pay Where to look for up-to-date pay informationMaking use of your networksWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

How can you juggle your senior career when your children are born prematurely?Our guest this week is Lucy McAuliffe, Stations and Security Director at Network Rail and parent to 5-year-old twins and a 16-month toddler. Lucy and her wife's twins arrived 8 weeks earlier than planned, not long after Lucy had started a new senior position. She shares: The reality of having premature childrenWhy the discretionary support you're given at work can make all the difference Advice on moving from 2 to 3 childrenWorking full time and managing perceptions at school drop offDealing with assumptions when you're in a same-sex coupleHow being a parent gives you a different lens on leadership We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenListen now in iTunes | Listen now on SpotifyAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

"We’ve been working with NHS England who last year made a huge policy shift in the NHS to make flexible working a day one employment right and to make roles flexible by default."Joining us for the 100th episode of Big Careers, Small Children is change-maker Kate Jarman, co-founder of Flex NHS and Director of Corporate Affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.Kate founded Flex NHS alongside Asha Cowey in 2018 with the mission to make flexible working more accessible to the 1.5 million staff working in the NHS. Flex NHS champions flex for all, and promotes a better work/life balance as a vital part of recruiting and retaining NHS staff now and in the future. We discuss:The catalyst for starting Flex NHSHow through Flex NHS Kate and Aasha have built a movement for change in flexible working that has completely changed national policy Why you should be less transactional and more authentic at work How Kate juggles being a campaigner alongside working full-time in her NHS roleWhy it's a myth that if you work part-time or flexibly in the NHS you can't progress your careerWe hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about Flex NHS on Twitter @FlexNHSFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes (applications for the NHS Fellowship closes 17/10) and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

A special update for any listeners working in the NHS. Too often, parents feel they must choose between an ambitious career and enjoying their young children. As part of the 6-month Leaders Plus NHS Foundation Fellowship, you get expert career development support, group coaching, a supportive network of peers and practical support to overcome work/life hurdles. It has been described by some NHS Fellows as, “life-transforming!”The Fellowship is accessible to clinical and non-clinical colleagues from any speciality.The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is generously part funding 10 spaces and we also have hardship fund places available. If you're working in the NHS then I encourage you to find out more: www.leadersplus.org.uk/NHSFellowship Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

What if being lucky wasn’t just by chance but a skill that you could master? Our guest this week is Dr. Christian Busch, the best-selling author of Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck and a Professor at New York University.Christian has spent years exploring the connection between chance encounters and new professional opportunities and has fantastic insights on how we can all leverage luck to our advantage.There were so many lightbulb moments during the discussion and plenty of practical tips we can all act on to improve our lives, both personally and professionally.We discuss:What exactly is serendipity and how to cultivate more of it in our livesHow to build a muscle so we can be better prepared for the unexpectedHow to address self-limiting beliefsHow we can leverage the superpower of extroverts to our advantageConnect with Christian on Twitter @ChrisSerendipFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

How can you secure an internal promotion without working all hours and putting your hand up for every task?Our guest today is Nadia Bunyan, HR Director at Global Witness, an international NGO that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide.Nadia shares fantastic advice on progressing your career internally, including the three things any parent who is trying to be promoted within their organisation can do today. The conversation also includes:How to ensure you choose your employer wiselyTips on changing sectors, particularly when looking for something family-friendly Guilt and setting boundariesBalancing international travel when you are a working parent How is hiring different for senior rolesPlus plenty of interview tipsWe hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Many listeners have told us that guilt is a challenge you're struggling with, particularly working parent guilt. This week on Big Careers, Small Children we are revisiting some of the best tips shared by our previous guests around guilt and learning to let it go.Featured:Wendy Merricks, CEO Jumar (Series 6, Episode 91)Michelle Mitchell OBE, CEO Cancer Research UK (Series 4, Episode 52)Laura Harrison, Co-founder Human Change Agency (Series 2, Episode 15)Lucy Duszczak, Senior Online Sales & Digital Manager, YHA & Dr. Suhana Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist, NHS (Series 3, Episode 46)Amy Gibbs, Former CEO Birthrights (Series 6, Episode 83)Dr. Heejung Chung, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Kent (Series 5, Episode 78)Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programmes and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

What does it mean to be a compassionate leader and how can it benefit organisations?Kami Norland is a national and international speaker, facilitator and CEO of Integrative Re-Sources.In this episode, we chat about compassionate leadership and how it’s not only possible but essential to create compassionate organisations.Kami reminds us that we aren't just an employee but an individual bringing our whole selves to work. She shares her expert advice on:What it means to be a compassionate leaderWhy you should dial back productivityHow to radically increase your attention spanThe best way to build trust with the people you lead We hope you enjoy the conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Participate in the Elevate Compassion Coalition on the first Friday of every month at 10.30am CT.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Ever felt like you're not living up to your full potential and wished you could change your career? Karen Squires is an A&E Consultant at the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, but her career actually started in hairdressing. After re-evaluating her life in her mid-20s and feeling that she wasn't reaching her true potential, Karen made the brave decision to take a leap and pursue a career in medicine. In this chat with Verena Hefti MBE, Karen shares how she trusted her gut instinct to follow her career dreams. Together they explore why our careers don't always need to go from A to B and how the meandering path can still move you closer to your goals.Karen also shares her experience of being an older mother alongside progressing in her career. Including her diagnosis of secondary infertility and the multiple rounds of IVF, she and her partner endured before having their much longed-for second daughter.Working in emergency medicine is a pressurised environment. Karen has fantastic advice for dealing with this whilst still being a present parent.We hope you enjoy the conversation. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events, by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast, please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Not everyone is in a relationship but those that are can spend a considerable amount of time trying to negotiate two big careers alongside raising young children and the commitments this entails.This week on Big Careers, Small Children we are revisiting some of the best advice previous guests have shared around making dual career couples work. Featured:Nick Wilkie, Former CEO of the NCT (Series 1, Episode 5)Dr. Jennifer Petriglieri, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour INSEAD (Series 2, Episode 16)Ruth and Colin Stuart, Dual Career Couple (Series 2, Episode 15)If you are in a dual career couple you may benefit from our upcoming panel discussion where you will hear from other successful and ambitious couples discussing their thoughts on balancing parenting with two demanding careers in one household.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Today's guest knows a thing or two about working under huge pressure after being headhunted by Wockhardt UK to direct the development of the manufacturing process and facility to produce the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Alice Kan is the Pharmaceutical Director at Kan Do Ventures and one of the UK's Top 50 Women in Engineering. In this episode, Alice shares what she has learned from managing the vaccine roll out whilst balancing her family commitments, including raising two teenage children.A "recovering perfectionist" Alice cares deeply about working hard, having purpose and making a difference. She speaks passionately about setting boundaries and making choices that work for your family whilst progressing your career.We discuss:Finding a job with purposeChallenging sexism, racism and misogyny in the workplaceSetting boundariesRecovering from perfectionism and why good enough is okayIdentifying when you're in flow and finding happinessWe hope you enjoy the episode. Find out more about Alice Kan at www.kandoventures.com Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

"Children are not going to come to any harm because you work full time," says our guest today Wendy Merricks.Wendy is the CEO and Founder of Jumar, a group of companies in the IT sector and a Senior Leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme.Growing up in inner-city Birmingham in a working-class family, Wendy has worked hard to get to the most senior positions, always believing that she was capable of anything she put her mind to. A mother of two boys (now in their 20s) born in quick succession, Wendy has always worked full-time whilst ensuring that when she is with the children, she is truly present. She is a passionate advocate that having children should not be a career inhibitor and her company, Jumar, prides itself on looking out for employees and ensuring workers have a good work-life balance. We discuss:Why working full time will not harm your childrenPractical tips if you're struggling with self-beliefWhy setting goals and taking small steps can lead to big positive changesIVF and why it's important to engage your employer and ask for supportFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Can you work as a senior leader in a fast-paced industry like banking and set boundaries around your working hours? Our guest today is proof you can.Guy Duncan Neale is Head of Global Internal Audit Transformation at HSBC and leads a team of international senior internal auditors within the bank.Following a cancer diagnosis, Guy reflected on the priorities in his life and decided he would limit his working hours to ensure he could be present with his family. He is a real change-maker and is vocal about the fact that whilst pursuing his big career he remains disciplined with his working hours, something that is unusual in a sector known for very long working hours.In this episode, Guy shares his tips for other working parents, including:How to practically manage your set working hoursHow to set boundaries at workHow to communicate with your line manager and team about your working hoursHow to build trust in organisationsHow to learn to be truly present with your kidsWhy you can't do everything for everybodyWhy having work email on your personal phone isn't recommendedGuy is also a senior leader Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship and informs and advises many other working parents on combining a leadership career and family.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.Show Notes:Book - 4000 Weeks and How to Use them (Oliver Burkeman)Podcast - Big Careers, Small Children Episode 38 (Chris Bryant)If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your conflicting priorities?Our guest today is Suzy Reading, a Chartered Psychologist, author and specialist in self care and well being.Suzy knows the science behind well being and shares how, as busy working parents, we can look after ourselves when under pressure without feeling like it's something else we need to tick on our to-do list.We discuss:Why self care is actually health careHow to practically put yourself first (or at least make sure it's you as well!)Why self care doesn't have to be like you see on InstagramThe importance of green gazing and what it does for your nervous system3 simple things we can all do to help restore our energy levels when overwhelmedConnect with Suzy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyreadingWebsite: https://www.suzyreading.co.ukFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Do you ever worry about changing priorities during your career?Our guest today is Dr. Christina Venzin, a Senior Doctor, Coach and Gender Equality Change Maker.Christina makes no secret of the fact that when she first had children she thought her career would have to totally change. What she in fact discovered was that it's absolutely okay to evolve your priorities over time and come back to what you love.The discussion includes:Why it's absolutely okay to change priorities during your career The process of outing yourself as loving your career and your childrenThings learned from raising children that actually help in leadership Why you should mention the things you’ve learned as a parent in a job interviewUsing anger at the system and charged emotions to make a change How to progress your career even if other people tell you not toThe 3 things Christina would advise her own daughter Find out more about Christina and her work here: www.college-m.ch Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Big Careers Small Children helps ambitious parents progress careers they love whilst being present with their children. Through honest and informal conversation, senior leaders divulge what they have learnt on their own journey of combining big careers with young children to our host Verena Hefti MBE. Expect lots of aha moments, inspiration, fresh ideas, and practical support, so you can move forward in your career in a way that works for you and your family.Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Do you ever struggle with saying no at work?Our guest today is Laurie Weingart, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Carnegie Mellon University and Co-Author of the brilliant book No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work, she is an expert at saying no. The No Club has a fascinating back story. It began when Laurie and a group of friends came together disheartened by the fact they were working harder than ever but still trailed far behind their male colleagues.Vowing to get their work lives under control they resolved to say no to requests that pulled them away from the work that mattered most to their careers - the non-promotable tasks.Laurie shares her expert advice on how we can all make small, yet significant changes to our workload without stalling our careers or facing backlash for saying no. We discuss: what the research says about saying nowhy unrewarded work is more likely to fall to women why saying no is actually crucial for promotionthe easy 3 step process for identifying your own non-promotable tasks how you can learn to say no so you can do more of the work you loveConnect with Laurie and find out more about the No Club at www.thenoclub.com. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

'Dadvocate' Ian Dinwiddy is the founder of Inspiring Dads, a platform designed to help dads balance the complexities of modern life and fatherhood.Management Consultant Ian and his partner Lisa (a lawyer) have made what some might view as bold decisions regarding their parenting setup. When their daughter Freya was born they took the decision that Ian would step back from his career to look after her and he has gone on to become the main carer for their two children. We discuss:How dads can be brave and go beyond social expectationsHow to deal with the inevitable judgement from yourself and your peers when you challenge expectations Gender equality at home and work and how they influence each other What organisations can do support dads to take shared parental leave and how to remove barriers What men really talk about and why most men are more supportive of change than you might think Why when you connect men together to share stories and experiences it's incredibly powerful The one thing every dad can do to move closer to the work/home setup they'd really likeThe huge pressure faced by dads who are the main breadwinner but who also want to be present parentsThis was such a powerful and valuable conversation and we hope you enjoy it.You can find out more about the Inspiring Dads platform at www.inspiringdads.co.uk. Connect with Ian on LinkedIn and Twitter. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Steph Douglas is the inspirational Founder and CEO of the gifting company Don't Buy Her Flowers.Steph launched her business in 2014 after having her first baby and being inundated with bouquets. She joins Verena to talk candidly about growing a successful business, raising her family and challenging expectations, including at home. The conversation includes:Why and how to ensure you safeguard time to think when growing your businessHow parenthood can benefit you in business 'Feminine' business traits and why they are essential skillsWhy it's critical our children witness their parents sharing the load Challenging societal pressures around female CEOs and driving for equality at homeWhy you don't need to run your business like The Apprentice or Dragon's DenWe end with three tips for anyone thinking about starting their own business.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter.If you’d like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildrenAre you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Our guest today is Lauren Seager-Smith FRSA, CEO of the bullying prevention charity Kidscape and a Mentor on the Leaders Plus Fellowship Programme.Lauren is one of a small but growing number of CEOs with younger children and she shares her experience of working in a senior position whilst juggling the reality of small kids.She has many years of experience providing expertise and guidance relating to all forms of bullying and in this episode she shares practical advice for dealing with bullying both in the workplace and at home with our children. We also talk about looking after yourself in times of extreme intensity, something Lauren has experienced when her parents both suffered mental health breakdowns not long after she gave birth to her second child.Our conversation includes:How to know when you're being bulliedWhere you can go for support for yourself and your childrenWhy we all would benefit from a wider circle of support and how to find it The challenges of being the 'sandwich generation' caring for children and parentsSelf care tips and why this is so importantConnect with Lauren on LinkedIn.Follow Kidscape on Twitter @Kidscape and find out more about their essential work at www.kidscape.org.uk. Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter. PODCAST RESOURCES:BOOK: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk RESOURCE: Suzy Reading APP: Calm App for Mindfulness BULLYING SUPPORT IN THE WORKPLACE: AcasBULLYING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN: Kidscape If you'd like to submit a question to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast please record it here https://www.speakpipe.com/BigCareersSmallChildren Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Joining us today is Leaders Plus Fellow Amy Gibbs. Amy is CEO of Birthrights, a powerful charity championing human rights in childbirth.Working part-time in a senior role is (sadly) still an exception and not the norm and Amy describes her journey to becoming a CEO and taking the top position, including how she makes her role work 4 days a week.Amy also shares her wonderfully honest reflections on setting boundaries, work-life balance and why it's essential we all prioritise a little more self-care. Rest snacks are just one way to do this, she explains how.Plus the conversation covers: How to become a CEO and the skills neededWorking flexibly in a senior roleWhy having half days off never works Getting over the idea that we have to work and be present all the timeSetting effective boundaries that work for you Burn out and reaching out if you're struggling Why we all need to take more rest snacks3 practical tips for moving to 4 days a week Honesty always makes for the best conversations so we really hope you enjoy our frank discussion. Connect with Amy on Twitter @amylwgibbs Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Our guest today is Carlotta Negri di Sanfront, Chief Product and Design Officer for giffgaff, the mobile network run by its members.Carlotta is wonderfully honest about her experience of starting a family at the peak of her career and talks openly about deciding to go for the role of Chief Product and Design Officer whilst 8 months pregnant. Our discussion includes:When is the right time to have a baby if you're progressing your careerReturning to work to a new senior position Juggling the mental loadBeing present with your children when you're a senior leader The realities of having a premature baby (and less time to plan!)You can connect with Carlotta on LinkedIn. We hope you enjoy our conversation.Find out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.

Welcome to series 6 of the Big Careers, Small Children (formerly Leaders With Babies) podcast.Our guest today is Mary Ann Sieghart. Mary is a former The Times Senior Editor and more recently the author of a really intriguing book, The Authority Gap, which analyses why women are taken less seriously than men and what we can do about it. The discussion includes:Why is that men and women can say the exact same thing yet it's perceived differently?A look at the latest evidence and research around authority and genderWhat can we all do to deal with this authority gap in day-to-day lifeHow can we change things for future generations Mary Ann's book The Authority Gap is available via her website maryannsieghart.com. Connect with Mary Ann on Twitter @masieghartFind out more about the work of Leaders Plus, including details of our award-winning Fellowship Programme and our latest events by signing up to receive our emails at leadersplus.org.uk/newsletter. Are you progressing a big career whilst raising small children? Each month we send out a helpful round-up email featuring useful info and brave new ideas for ambitious mums and dads. Sign up now.Applications are now open for our NHS FellowshipOur FMLM accredited NHS Fellowship is a career development programme for working parents in the NHS who want to lead positive change. Apply by 11/07. Find out more.